New and Expanded Online Resource Details Fatal Concealed Carry Incidents State by State

Washington, DC — Today, the Violence Policy Center (VPC) launched a new and expanded version of Concealed Carry Killers, an online resource that provides hundreds of examples of fatal non-self defense incidents involving private individuals with permits to carry concealed handguns. This information can be viewed at concealedcarrykillers.org.

Concealedcarrykillers.org includes a new user-friendly map providing information on fatal incidents state by state. Where possible, each incident includes a detailed vignette of the circumstances surrounding the killing. Descriptions of the incidents include, when available: the number of people killed; the age of the perpetrator and the victim(s); the weapon used; the relationship(s) of those involved in the killing; and, the motive(s) for the killing when reported.

“While the gun lobby and firearms industry work to keep secret the crimes committed by concealed handgun permit holders, the examples presented in Concealed Carry Killers reveal the real-world consequences in horrifying detail. We challenge anyone to sit down and read through the hundreds of incidents contained on this website — year by year, state by state, victim by victim — and not be shocked and angered by the needless lives lost, all for the sake of the gun industry’s bottom line,” states VPC Legislative Director Kristen Rand.

Detailed information on fatal incidents involving concealed carry killers is rarely available from official sources, and some states in fact bar the release of such information. As a result, the VPC is forced to rely primarily on news accounts for reports of such killings and subsequent legal proceedings. The overall number of fatal incidents involving concealed carry killers is almost certainly far higher than the totals cited on the website.

The VPC has documented 29 mass shootings (three or more victims) involving concealed carry permit holders since May 2007, resulting in the deaths of 139 victims. Overall, Concealed Carry Killers documents 550 fatal incidents since May 2007 in 36 states and the District of Columbia, resulting in the deaths of 732 people.

In 84 percent of the 550 incidents (460) the concealed carry killer committed suicide (219), has already been convicted (179), perpetrated a murder-suicide (46), or was killed in the incident (16). Of the 70 cases still pending, the vast majority (61) of concealed carry killers have been charged with criminal homicide, four were deemed incompetent to stand trial, and five incidents are still under investigation. Seventeen of the victims were law enforcement officers. An additional 20 incidents were fatal unintentional shootings involving the gun of the concealed handgun permit holder.

Concealed Carry Killers does not include the small number of incidents that are eventually ruled as lawful self-defense. Any incident that is eventually ruled as self-defense is removed from the database’s ongoing totals.

Below is a chart showing the status of all concealed carry killers since May 2007:

Please visit concealedcarrykillers.org for more information, including detailed summaries for hundreds of the 550 fatal incidents perpetrated by concealed handgun permit holders.

The Violence Policy Center is a national educational organization working to stop gun death and injury. Follow the VPC on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

The Violence Policy Center is a national tax-exempt educational organization working for a safer America through research, investigation, analysis, and advocacy. The VPC provides information to policymakers, journalists, organizations, advocates, and the general public. Click here to learn more.